172: Break through the defense line

Rhine Province, Rhine City Port.

Karl stood on the deck of the flagship 'wave chaser', facing the river breeze, his sharp gaze fixed on the wide Rhine River waterway ahead. Behind him, the massive fleet of the Star Shattering Legion set sail in sequence, fully loaded with fifty thousand elite soldiers and a vast amount of supplies, heading upstream toward the unknown land pre-named 'Scott Province'.

Several days ago, Evan had already led ten thousand heavy-armored elites of the Dragon Scale Knights into Scott Province by land. Their mission was to clear obstacles on the path forward, eliminate the peripheral outposts preset by the Orc alliance, and open a road for the main force.

Meanwhile, in the East Sea Province to the east, Yilman's fifty thousand men of the Po Jun Legion and Angus's twenty thousand Divine Arrow Army had also completed their assembly. Serving as the rear guard and flank support for this northern expedition, they began marching toward the designated battlefield.

Such large-scale, multi-directional military movements by the Star Sea Territory naturally could not be entirely hidden from the Kingdom's eyes and ears. When the news reached the Royal Capital, it actually brought some relief to those royal family members and nobles who had worried about Linn's secret disobedience or inaction. On the surface at least, this Duke of Star Sea was still 'faithfully' executing the royal command, mobilizing a grand army to suppress the Orcs without showing any signs of rebellion.

"General!" A Griffon Knight landed on the deck of the 'wave chaser' from the sky, saluting and reporting to Karl, "Lord Evan sends word that the land forces are progressing smoothly. They have cleared seven Orc peripheral outposts as planned and have now arrived at the outskirts of the enemy's first defense line. According to reconnaissance, approximately eighty thousand Orc troops are gathered on that line, defending behind simple fortifications."

Karl nodded and ordered, "Reply to General Evan: construct a temporary camp on-site and maintain close surveillance, but do not launch a general offensive without authorization. Wait for the main force of my Star Shattering Legion to arrive before launching a coordinated attack to take the defense line in one fell swoop. Afterward, rest and reorganize on the spot while waiting for General Yilman's rear guard to rendezvous."

"Yes!"

As a natural transport artery, the Rhine River displayed immense strategic value at this moment. The river was wide and deep enough for the medium-sized warships of the Star Shattering Legion to pass through without hindrance, greatly accelerating the speed of troop mobility and logistical supply. The fleet followed the winding river deep into the heart of Scott Province, getting closer and closer to the designated battlefield.

Three days later, the fleet reached the designated landing area, which was less than fifty li from the first defense line Evan had mentioned.

Karl decisively ordered, "Snake!"

"Present!" Major General Snake, the Vice Legion Commander of the Star Shattering Legion, stepped forward to receive orders.

"You will lead ten thousand men of the First Division to remain with the fleet, ensuring the security of the waterway and establishing temporary docks and supply transit stations."

"All other units, land with me!"

Forty thousand elites of the Star Shattering Legion disembarked quickly and orderly, forming ranks rapidly on the riverbank before marching double-time toward the defense line. By that evening, they had successfully linked up with Evan's unit, which had been waiting there.

Inside the temporary frontline command tent, as soon as Evan saw Karl, he couldn't wait to complain, "Karl, you're finally here! Looking at that messy defense line ahead, my boys have been unable to restrain themselves for a long time. They've requested to fight several times, and I can barely hold them back! With my ten thousand heavy cavalry, wouldn't it be easy to crush those tens of thousands of rabble?"

Karl laughed and patted Evan's heavy shoulder armor, "I know how powerful you and the Dragon Scales are. But this time, we aren't just trying to win a battle. We have to act out the full play. If you just roll over them easily by yourself, the act will look fake. These past few days on the river, I've spotted at least three groups of Griffon scouts sent by the Kingdom circling high above. This 'bloody battle' must look difficult, tragic, but ultimately glorious."

Evan realized the point, reined in his impatience, and grinned, "Understood, it's for those 'spectators'. So, tell me, how do we fight next?"

Karl walked to the simple sand table and pointed at the position representing the defense line: "Let the soldiers rest well tonight and build up their strength. At dawn tomorrow, Major General Snake will command the 'raging waves class' magic crystal cannons of the remaining fleet to conduct a round of long-range fire coverage on the enemy line to disrupt their deployment and create panic."

He turned his gaze to Evan: "After the bombardment, the main infantry force of my Star Shattering Legion will launch a frontal assault to draw the enemy's main force. Your Dragon Scale Knights will be on standby on the flank. Once our army breaks through the front and the enemy line shows signs of wavering or retreating, your heavy cavalry will strike immediately, performing a crushing charge and pursuit. Your main task isn't to break them, but to pursue, 'annihilating' as many fleeing enemies as possible to maximize the results, while also making the pursuit look 'difficult' and 'costly'."

"Understood!" Battle Intent burned in Evan's eyes, "Charging the front is what we're good at, and chasing down routed troops to expand the spoils while putting on an act is even easier!"

"Good!" Karl slammed a heavy fist onto the edge of the sand table, "Once we take this defense line, we'll have a foothold. Then, we'll 'steadily advance' while waiting for Yilman and the others to arrive, making this 'Northern Expedition' play even more magnificent!"

As night fell, the Star Sea Territory's camp was filled with the killing intent before a great battle and a deliberately suppressed excitement. Across from them, behind the noisy, campfire-dotted Orc defense line, those low-level Orc soldiers—kept in the dark and believing they were backed by 'hundreds of thousands of troops'—waited for the coming, destined-to-be-cruel dawn with illusory dreams of 'glory' and 'victory'. A carefully planned 'performance' was about to make its shocking debut in the most realistic and bloody way.

The next day, the darkest hour before dawn.

On the Rhine River, the thin mist had not yet dispersed. Under Snake's command, the remaining fleet quietly adjusted their firing positions. The muzzles of all 'raging waves class' magic crystal main cannons glinted with a cold light in the magical shimmer, all pointing toward the Orc defense line tens of li away that was still in slumber.

"Target: enemy frontline camps and fortification clusters." Snake's voice carried clearly into each ship's command room through the transmission array, "Load high-explosive shells, three rounds of rapid fire, fire!"

The moment the order was given, hundreds of blinding blue lights suddenly lit up on the river surface, like flowers of death blooming abruptly before dawn. The low hum quickly turned into a scream that tore through the air. Hundreds of blazing light spheres containing violent Demonic Energy pierced the dim sky, trailing long tails like a meteor shower as they slammed hard into the Orc defense line!

Boom! Boom! Boooom—!!!

Deafening explosions erupted on the Orc defense line almost simultaneously! Dazzling blue-white flashes instantly swallowed large areas. The simple wood and stone camps, crude fences, and piled supplies were shredded, tossed, and ignited like paper under the violent energy impact! The shockwave swept in all directions, carrying rubble, broken wood, and mangled limbs. Screams, shouts, and death rattles instantly replaced the silence of dawn as the entire frontline was transformed into a Hell of fire and chaos.

Before the aftershocks of the bombardment had fully subsided, the low and highly piercing horn of attack sounded from the Star Sea Territory's camp.

"Star Shattering Legion, attack!" Karl drew his sword and swung it sharply toward the smoke-filled defense line ahead.

The forty thousand Star Shattering Legion infantrymen, who had long been prepared, surged forward like a bursting flood, letting out earth-shaking battle cries. In tight formations, they launched an overwhelming charge toward the chaotic enemy. Arrows fell like locusts, covering the remaining points of resistance first. Then, the shield-bearers pushed through the scattered counterattacks, quickly breaking through the frontline that had been blown to bits and engaging in a melee with the terrified Orcs.

The battle showed a one-sided trend from the very beginning. The Orc army, heavily damaged and with its command structure nearly paralyzed, was simply unable to organize any effective resistance. Under the crushing assault of the Star Shattering Legion's elite infantry, the defense line collapsed rapidly. The surviving Orc soldiers completely lost their Battle Intent, crying out as they dropped their weapons and turned to flee for their lives toward the mountain forests in the rear.

"Dragon Scale Knights!" Evan, who had been waiting on the flank, saw the flood of fleeing troops form. A cold light flashed in his eyes as he raised his war lance high, "Target: routed troops! Charge!"

"Roar!" Ten thousand Dragon Scale heavy cavalry roared in unison, their heavy hooves trampling the earth with a dull, thunderous boom. Like a river of steel or a moving mountain range, the Dragon Scale Knights cut fiercely into the fleeing Orc crowd from the flank with an unstoppable Aura. Iron hooves trampled and long lances pierced; wherever they passed, flesh and blood flew, and wails filled the air. They were in no hurry to completely pierce through the routed army; instead, like driving a flock of sheep, they continuously divided, squeezed, and hunted them down, infinitely magnifying the panic of the retreat while vividly displaying the cruelty and 'results' of this 'war of annihilation' to any potential watchers.

The smoke, fire, blood, wailing, and the Star Sea Army's seemingly fierce but deliberately controlled pursuit together formed the picture of the first 'tragic victory' in Scott Province. Karl stood on a high ground, calmly overlooking the entire battlefield. He knew that the first act of this play had been performed perfectly according to the script. Next would be consolidating the 'spoils' and waiting for the subsequent 'plot' to unfold.